Yellowstone - Tracks of the StoneBear
Ride along with Uncle Hargus on another journey to the West. SLC, Tetons, Cody, WY, Chief Joseph Hwy, Beartooth Hwy, Red Lodge, Dillon, Virginia City MT, and Bonneville USA.
Also look in ITW Tracks of the StoneBear ITW = Into The West http://stonebeartracks.blogspot.com/ ALL Blog posts and photographs Copyright MCMLXIII ALL Rights Reserved

Although Nevada City is mostly a ghost town now... this was a significant place in American history of the West. Nevada City, Montana and sister city Virginia City, Montana are only a few miles apart. They were Gold mining boom towns in the 1860s and the pioneers coming here through indian lands incited the indian wars of the west.

I always like when I get to a place that has a historical piece of the American puzzle. The gold rush was on to get to Virginia City and Nevada City, Montana.

The Miner / prospectors formed up wagon trains in St Louis to head through Wyoming for the gold fields. Of the wagonmasters were John Bozeman and Jim Bridger going up through Wyoming at Fort Laramie across indian country to Nevada City. They promised in a treaty with the indians; they just wanted to traverse through the Powder River Pass to the gold mines with NO army forts. The indians agreed.

Well, the first wagon trains brought the army which built Fort Phil Kerney right in the heart of indian hunting land... the plains the Sioux and Cheyenne used to hunt their bison.

-- Also see Virginia City, MT post -- Also see the ITW blog post of the Fetterman massacre. -- also the Wagon Box fight post--

This incited and began the indian wars in this 1860s territory. This was the wild west; right here.

****

from Wikipedia: Virginia City

In 1863, the area was part of the Dakota Territory until March, when it became part of the newly formed Idaho Territory. On May 26, 1864, the Territory of Montana was formed, with Bannack briefly becoming the territorial capital, Virginia City would quickly take that title from Bannack.

In May 1863, a group of prospectors were headed towards the Yellowstone River and instead came upon a party of the Crow tribe and were forced to return to Bannack. Gold was discovered on the retreat trip when Bill Fairweather stuck a pick near Alder Creek joking he might find something to fund some tobacco.

The prospectors could not keep the site a secret. They were followed on their return to the gold bearing site and set up the town in order to formulate rules about individual gold claims. On June 16, 1863 under the name of "Verina" the township was formed a mile south of the gold fields. The name was meant to honor Varina Howell Davis, first and only First Lady of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Verina, although in Union territory, was founded by men whose loyalties were thoroughly Confederate. Upon registration of the name, a Connecticut judge, G. G. Bissell, objected to their choice and recorded it as Virginia City. (In full irony, since Virginia itself had seceded, only to have West Virginia secede from the state and stay in the Union, it seemed an appropriate name for a Dixie city in Yankee territory.)

Within weeks Virginia City was a veritable boomtown of thousands in the midst of a gold rush with no law enforcement whatsoever, except for vigilantism. Most of Montana became under the rule of a Vigilance committee, the infamous Montana Vigilantes, which operated on both sides of the law. Their secret motto, 3-7-77 is still on the badges, patches, and car door insignia of the Montana Highway Patrol.

In 1864, the Montana Territory was carved out of Idaho Territory. Virginia City, claiming 10,000 citizens, was made the capital of the new territory in 1865. The first public school was built in 1866, but already the most easily accessible gold from placer mining had been exploited and development and population in the territory was moving towards Helena.

In 1864, he blazed the Bridger Trail, an alternate route from Wyoming to the gold fields of Montana that avoided the dangerous Bozeman Trail. Later, he served as guide and army scout during the first Powder River Expedition against the Sioux and Cheyenne that were blocking the Bozeman Trail (Red Cloud's War). In 1865 he was discharged at Fort Laramie.

Although Nevada City is mostly a ghost town now... this was a significant place in American history of the West. Nevada City, Montana and sister city Virginia City, Montana are only a few miles apart. They were Gold mining boom towns in the 1860s and the pioneers coming here through indian lands incited the indian wars of the west.

I always like when I get to a place that has a historical piece of the American puzzle. The gold rush was on to get to Virginia City and Nevada City, Montana.

The Miner / prospectors formed up wagon trains in St Louis to head through Wyoming for the gold fields. Of the wagonmasters were John Bozeman and Jim Bridger going up through Wyoming at Fort Laramie across indian country to Nevada City. They promised in a treaty with the indians; they just wanted to traverse through the Powder River Pass to the gold mines with NO army forts. The indians agreed.

Well, the first wagon trains brought the army which built Fort Phil Kerney right in the heart of indian hunting land... the plains the Sioux and Cheyenne used to hunt their bison.

-- Also see Virginia City, MT post -- Also see the ITW blog post of the Fetterman massacre. -- also the Wagon Box fight post--

This incited and began the indian wars in this 1860s territory. This was the wild west; right here.

****

from Wikipedia: Virginia City

In 1863, the area was part of the Dakota Territory until March, when it became part of the newly formed Idaho Territory. On May 26, 1864, the Territory of Montana was formed, with Bannack briefly becoming the territorial capital, Virginia City would quickly take that title from Bannack.

In May 1863, a group of prospectors were headed towards the Yellowstone River and instead came upon a party of the Crow tribe and were forced to return to Bannack. Gold was discovered on the retreat trip when Bill Fairweather stuck a pick near Alder Creek joking he might find something to fund some tobacco.

The prospectors could not keep the site a secret. They were followed on their return to the gold bearing site and set up the town in order to formulate rules about individual gold claims. On June 16, 1863 under the name of "Verina" the township was formed a mile south of the gold fields. The name was meant to honor Varina Howell Davis, first and only First Lady of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Verina, although in Union territory, was founded by men whose loyalties were thoroughly Confederate. Upon registration of the name, a Connecticut judge, G. G. Bissell, objected to their choice and recorded it as Virginia City. (In full irony, since Virginia itself had seceded, only to have West Virginia secede from the state and stay in the Union, it seemed an appropriate name for a Dixie city in Yankee territory.)

Within weeks Virginia City was a veritable boomtown of thousands in the midst of a gold rush with no law enforcement whatsoever, except for vigilantism. Most of Montana became under the rule of a Vigilance committee, the infamous Montana Vigilantes, which operated on both sides of the law. Their secret motto, 3-7-77 is still on the badges, patches, and car door insignia of the Montana Highway Patrol.

In 1864, the Montana Territory was carved out of Idaho Territory. Virginia City, claiming 10,000 citizens, was made the capital of the new territory in 1865. The first public school was built in 1866, but already the most easily accessible gold from placer mining had been exploited and development and population in the territory was moving towards Helena.

***

Wikipedia Jim Bridger:

In 1864, he blazed the Bridger Trail, an alternate route from Wyoming to the gold fields of Montana that avoided the dangerous Bozeman Trail. Later, he served as guide and army scout during the first Powder River Expedition against the Sioux and Cheyenne that were blocking the Bozeman Trail (Red Cloud's War). In 1865 he was discharged at Fort Laramie.

Virginia City, Montana is a western mining town... a boom town... and bust. Virginia City at one time was the provisional territory capitol of Montana , until it was wrestled away by Bozeman and eventually Helena. -- Also see Helena, Montana "Last Chance Gulch" post on ITWtracks of the StoneBear -- http://stonebeartracks.blogspot.com/2011/03/last-chance-gulch-helena-montana.html --

The gold rush was on in the 1,860s and Virginia City was a hot gold mining Boomtown.

The life of the gold miners was a rough tumble life. They'd be up at dawn, working their claim; 10 feet of dirt Creekbank that was theirs and anything they could pan out of it. Typical day was to pan gold all day from dusk 'til dark.... or late eve when they'd take their Golddust into the saloons and "weigh out"... tally their daily Gold weight for dollars... most of the time on a credit ledger in the saloon. .... then for the rest of the night spend it on wiskey and saloon women... until dawn. ... then get up and do it again. WHAT a life to be a gold prospector in Helena Montana!!!

Wait a minute!!! ... men that would work hard all day and cavort into the night.... I know these guys; I worked with these guys. I knew Marine buddies that did the same thing. ... I worked with shipyard Cajuns that did this.... i worked with stockbrokers that did this... I worked with contruction workers that did this. .... Dad ! .... I know these guys; I worked and lived with them... god I love 'em!!! These are the guys that lived life to the fullest and built America!

Claims to the 10feet creekbanks were sold,... claims were traded.... worthless claims were sold to greenhorn tinpan newcomers,... claims were jumped by cutthroat scoundrels, ... men / prospectors were killed / beaten to death for worthless claims ... right here in Virginia City. And it has now transformed through history to be one of the old Montana off the beaten path forgotten attractions.

Because there was so much gold / silver mined here... very little banking system... this was the old west lawlessnes. Highwaymen... Robbers, Thieves, Thugs, Scoundrels ran wild here with little consequences for their scullduggery. Prospecting for placer gold was awful hard work; Robbing paid well for little work and less consequences.

But the pendulem always swings back to the other side.

Virginia City, Montana is not just any mining boomtown with rich history... most notably... the origin of the 3 - 7 - 77 Logo that is still on the present Montana State Troopers cars.

Legend is ... Virginia city, MT Vigilantes finally got fed up and took matters into their own hands; Old West Law / Justice.

The vigilante law was --3-- , --7--, --77--.

If you were a thug, robber, scoundrel.... the -3- -7- -77- was painted on your door.... on your linen tent,... your number was up --you have been found out for the riff-raff you are.

It meant... the stage leaves town at 3, the sun sets at 7, & it's 77 miles to Bozeman... the territorial capitol where you might could get a fair trial by official law. Otherwise,... take your chances here w/ the vigilantes western justice of a noose.

The vigilantes hung about 24 thugs (most notably the elected sheriff Henry Plummer and associates) in a couple of months when they cleaned up the town. Several were Hanged in this building. The ropes stayed there for a long time and you can still see their impression on the wooden beams. There was an eerie spooky musty smell about the place. go figure

god I love Montana and their people! --- They understood how to govern!

Old Faithful to Dillon, Montana

Sept 14, 2009

Virginia City, Montana

Virginia City, Montana is a western mining town... a boom town... and bust. Virginia City at one time was the provisional territory capitol of Montana , until it was wrestled away by Bozeman and eventually Helena. -- Also see Helena, Montana "Last Chance Gulch" post on ITWtracks of the StoneBear --

The gold rush was on in the 1,860s and Virginia City was a hot gold mining Boomtown.

The life of the gold miners was a rough tumble life. They'd be up at dawn, working their claim; 10 feet of dirt Creekbank that was theirs and anything they could pan out of it. Typical day was to pan gold all day from dusk 'til dark.... or late eve when they'd take their Golddust into the saloons and "weigh out"... tally their daily Gold weight for dollars... most of the time on a credit ledger in the saloon. .... then for the rest of the night spend it on wiskey and saloon women... until dawn. ... then get up and do it again. WHAT a life to be a gold prospector in Helena Montana!!!

Wait a minute!!! ... men that would work hard all day and cavort into the night.... I know these guys; I worked with these guys. I knew Marine buddies that did the same thing. ... I worked with shipyard Cajuns that did this.... i worked with stockbrokers that did this... I worked with contruction workers that did this. .... Dad ! .... I know these guys; I worked and lived with them... god I love 'em!!! These are the guys that lived life to the fullest and built America!

Claims to the 10feet creekbanks were sold,... claims were traded.... worthless claims were sold to greenhorn tinpan newcomers,... claims were jumped by cutthroat scoundrels, ... men / prospectors were killed / beaten to death for worthless claims ... right here in Virginia City. And it has now transformed through history to be one of the old Montana off the beaten path forgotten attractions.

Because there was so much gold / silver mined here... very little banking system... this was the old west lawlessnes. Highwaymen... Robbers, Thieves, Thugs, Scoundrels ran wild here with little consequences for their scullduggery. Prospecting for placer gold was awful hard work; Robbing paid well for little work and less consequences.

But the pendulem always swings back to the other side.

Virginia City, Montana is not just any mining boomtown with rich history... most notably... the origin of the 3 - 7 - 77 Logo that is still on the present Montana State Troopers cars.

Legend is ... Virginia city, MT Vigilantes finally got fed up and took matters into their own hands; Old West Law / Justice.

The vigilante law was --3-- , --7--, --77--.

If you were a thug, robber, scoundrel.... the -3- -7- -77- was painted on your door.... on your linen tent,... your number was up --you have been found out for the riff-raff you are.

It meant... the stage leaves town at 3, the sun sets at 7, & it's 77 miles to Bozeman... the territorial capitol where you might could get a fair trial by official law. Otherwise,... take your chances here w/ the vigilantes western justice of a noose.

The vigilantes hung about 24 thugs (most notably the elected sheriff Henry Plummer and associates) in a couple of months when they cleaned up the town. Several were Hanged in this building. The ropes stayed there for a long time and you can still see their impression on the wooden beams. There was an eerie spooky musty smell about the place. go figure

god I love Montana and their people! --- They understood how to govern!